Apparatus for cleaning iron moulds

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning iron moulds used in steel works. Such apparatus comprises a base plate, a guide tube mounted on the base to extend upwardly therefrom, a frusto-conical upwardly projecting lip portion at the upper end of said guide tube, a rod, means at or adjacent the lower end of said rod whereby the rod is movable to described a cone of revolution, resilient means which coact with said base plate and the lower end of said rod, to bias said rod to urge it into a vertical orientation, brush means flexibly secured proximate the upper end of said rod so as to extend laterally therefrom and a frusto-conical portion at the upper end of said rod. Said frustoconical portion tapers inwardly in an upward direction.

United States Patent Amelung et al.

[54] APPARATUS FOR CLEANING IRON MOULDS 4/1938 Wolfner ..l5/l04.01 CX[15] 3,681,811 [451 Aug. 8, 1972 2,517,106 8/1950 Hamlin ..l5/104.1CUX

Primary Examiner-Edward J. Roberts Attorney-Holman & Stern [57] ABSTRACTThis invention relates to apparatus for cleaning iron moulds used insteel works. Such apparatus comprises a base plate, a guide tube mountedon the base to extend upwardly therefrom, a frusto-conical upwardlyprojecting lip portion at the upper end of said guide tube, a rod, meansat or adjacent the lower end of said rod whereby the rod is movable todescribed a cone of revolution, resilient means which coact with saidbase plate and the lower end of said rod, to bias said rod to urge itinto a vertical orientation, brush means flexibly secured proximate theupper end of said rod so as to extend laterally therefrom and afrusto-conical portion at the upper end of said rod. Said frusto-conicalportion tapers inwardly in an upward direction.

5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure m f 2 we? PATENTEDMJB 8 m2 1 3.681.811

JNVENTORS ERNST AMELUNG EDGAR BELZ EGON EVERTZ APPARATUS FOR CLEANINGIRON MOULDS The invention relates to apparatus for cleaning iron mouldsused in steel works.

Hitherto known apparatus for cleaning such iron moulds comprise a rodwhich has at one end a disc having indentations formed in itscircumference. Said indentations engage with mountings which areconnected to a base plate of the apparatus. These mountings permit alimited vertical movement of the aforesaid disc to allow said rod toperform swinging motions. A plurality of brushes are flexibly connectedto the top of said rod which extends upwardly in a generally verticaldirection from the base plate, said brushes extending in a generallyhorizontal direction. The base plate supports a guide tube whichsurrounds said rod. Since the mass of said brushes, which are providedfor the cleaning of the iron moulds, determine the center of gravity insuch away that it is positioned in the upper part of the rod, and sincethe rod often swings away from the vertical while the iron mould islowered over said rod, the rod may not return to'its vertical positionafter the iron mould has been lowered over the rod. The chance that saidrod will not return to the vertical as aforesaid increases with usage,because the mountings and the disc gradually wear due to abrasion.

The object of the present invention is to provide such apparatus whereinthe rod will return to the vertical after the iron mould has beenpositioned over it.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided apparatusfor cleaning iron moulds used in steel works comprising a base plate, aguide tube mounted on the base plate to extend upwardly therefrom, afrusto-conical outwardly projecting lip portion at the upper end of saidguide tube, an upwardly extending rod mounted in the guide tube, meansadjacent the lower end of said rod mounting said rod in said guide tubewhereby the rod is movable to describe a cone of revolution, resilientmeans which coats with said base plate and the lower end of said rod tobias said rod to urge it into a vertical orientation, brush meansflexibly secured proximate the upper end of said rod so as to extendlaterally therefrom and a frusto-conical portion at the upper end ofsaid rod, said frusto-conical portion tapering inwardly in an upwarddirection.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference tothe accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic view of apparatus forcleaning iron moulds in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now the drawing the apparatus shown therein comprises a baseplate 2 on which is mounted a guide tube 1 which has at its upper end afrusto-conical outwardly projecting lip portion so that an iron mould 12which is not lowered exactly centrally into the tube 1 slides along theinner wall of said lip portion and into the guide tube 1. For receptionand interlocking of fastening elements (not shown) of a mould-handlingcrane (not shown), the guide tube 1 possesses axially extending slots1'.

The upper end of a rod 3 carries brushes 9 which are provided for thecleaning of the iron moulds, and for their part are flexibly connectedby springs 11 to the rod 3 so as to extend horizontally therefrom. Thebrushes 9' act upon the iron mould 12 and are mounted so that they canadjust themselves to the unevenness of the mould 12 as well as to thediffering measurements of the inside wall of iron moulds. The upper endof the rod 3 terminates with a frusto-conical disc 10 which is taperedinwardly as it extends upwardly so that even when the iron mould 12 isnot lowered centrally, a centen'ng efl'ect occurs. The disc 10 may beinterchangeable for other discs of different diameter such that ironmoulds of different sizes can be centered within the guide tube 1.Furthermore, the brushes may also be interchangeable if desired.

Proximate the lower end of the rod 3 is a spherical portion 4 which issupported in a socket bearing 5 which is connected to the base plate 2.The lowermost portion of the rod 3 has connected thereto a disc 6 whichhas a dish-shaped recess formed in its bottom surface and the radius ofcurvature of said recess is smaller than the radius of curvature of adish-shaped resilient plate 7 which engages the base plate 2. Thedish-shaped plate 7 has its apex directed upwardly and is movable on thebase plate 2 within certain limits. As can be seen from the drawing,the: peripheral area 9 of the bottom surface of the disc 6 always restson the dish-shaped plate 7, as a result of the differences of radii ofcurvature of the dish-shaped plate 7 and the recess in the disc 6 of therod 3. Since, as a result of the universal joint, constituted by thespherical portion 4 and the socket bearing 5 swinging movement of therod 3 can occur about a pivot 4, so as to describe a cone of revolutionwherein the peripheral area 9 is always acted upon at this point by theforce of the resilient dish-shaped plate 7. Therefore the rod 3 alwaysreturns to its vertical position independent of the center of gravitythereof.

Instead of the dish-shaped plate 7 which constitutes a spring, one canalso use a Belville washer whereby in general the characteristic of thespring is more flexible.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for cleaningiron moulds used in steel works comprising abase plate, a guide tube mounted on the base plate to extend upwardlytherefrom, a frusto-conical outwardly projecting lip portion at theupper end of said guide tube, an upwardly extending rod mounted in theguide tube, means adjacent the lower end of said rod mounting said rodin said guide tube whereby the rod is movable to describe a cone ofrevolution, resilient means which coacts with said base plate and thelower end of said rod to bias said rod to urge it into a verticalorientation, brush means flexibly secured proximate the upper end ofsaid rod so as to extend laterally therefrom and a frusto-conicalportion at the upper end of said rod, said frusto-conical portiontapering inwardly in an upward direction.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper end of said guidetube is provided with axially extending slots for the reception offastening elements of a mould-handling crane.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilient means is aresilient dish-shaped plate which is arranged with its apex pointingupwards and which is arranged on said base plate whereby the lower endof said rod is widened and only touches the cup-shaped disc with itsperipheral area.

.4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said rod is provided with aspherical portion proximate its lower end, said spherical portion beingsupported in a socket bearing.

5. Apparatus as claimed irl claim 1 wherein said resilient means is aBelville washer.

1. Apparatus for cleaning iron moulds used in steel works comprising abase plate, a guide tube mounted on the base plate to extend upwardlytherefrom, a frusto-conical outwardly projecting lip portion at theupper end of said guide tube, an upwardly extending rod mounted in theguide tube, means adjacent the lower end of said rod mounting said rodin said guide tube whereby the rod is movable to describe a cone ofrevolution, resilient means which coacts with said base plate and thelower end of said rod to bias said rod to urge it into a verticalorientation, brush means flexibly secured proximate the upper end ofsaid rod so as to extend laterally therefrom and a frustoconical portionat the upper end of said rod, said frusto-conical portion taperinginwardly in an upward direction.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1wherein the upper end of said guide tube is provided with axiallyextending slots for the reception of fastening elements of amould-handling crane.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidresilient means is a resilient dish-shaped plate which is arranged withits apex pointing upwards and which is arranged on said base platewhereby the lower end of said rod is widened and only touches thecup-shaped disc with its peripheral area.
 4. Apparatus as claimed inclAim 3 wherein said rod is provided with a spherical portion proximateits lower end, said spherical portion being supported in a socketbearing.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilient meansis a Belville washer.